apparent

adjective

ə-ˈper-ənt How to pronounce apparent (audio)
Definition of apparentnext
1
as in presumed
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed at the start of the investigation, the apparent cause of the plane crash was mechanical failure

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in visible
capable of being seen as the fog lifts, the town in the valley below us will become more apparent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation it's apparent from the smile on her face that she got a part in the play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective apparent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of apparent are clear, distinct, evident, manifest, obvious, patent, and plain. While all these words mean "readily perceived or apprehended," apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

When is it sensible to use clear instead of apparent?

The meanings of clear and apparent largely overlap; however, clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

In what contexts can distinct take the place of apparent?

While in some cases nearly identical to apparent, distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

When might evident be a better fit than apparent?

While the synonyms evident and apparent are close in meaning, evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

When can manifest be used instead of apparent?

The words manifest and apparent can be used in similar contexts, but manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

Where would obvious be a reasonable alternative to apparent?

Although the words obvious and apparent have much in common, obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

When would patent be a good substitute for apparent?

In some situations, the words patent and apparent are roughly equivalent. However, patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

When is plain a more appropriate choice than apparent?

The words plain and apparent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration.

her feelings about him are plain

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of apparent Witkoff’s apparent favorability toward negotiations was cited by regional sources speaking to an Israeli newspaper as one reason Khamenei softened up and wrote back to Trump. —Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2025 As a result, the union met with Carr on Monday in apparent hopes that Carr, who has promised tight scrutiny of the merger, uses his muscle to achieve measures that protect workers. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025 The update marks an apparent end to the internal deliberations that were reportedly ongoing in the hours before the Wednesday afternoon announcement event. —Dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,jesse Pound,christina Wilkie,megan Cassella,erin Doherty, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025 Fears of a possible constitutional crisis are on the rise following an apparent standoff between Donald Trump and a federal judge after the president was ordered to stop deportation flights traveling to El Salvador. —The Editors, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for apparent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apparent
  1. visible
  2. obvious
  3. possible
  4. noticeable
  5. evident
  6. seeming
  7. visual
  8. unmistakable
Adjective
  • The most visible sign of SpaceX making headway with Starship's first stage—called Super Heavy—came at 9:40 am local time (10:40 am EDT; 14:40 UTC) Thursday at the company's Starbase launch site in South Texas.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The parts of the body that HS affects tend to be covered and not visible.
    — Team Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of visible
Adjective
  • Find the right dog kennel site This may seem obvious, but good site selection can mean the difference between a single workday and an entire holiday weekend.
    — Patrick Brady, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The crony character of protectionism becomes obvious when examining the labyrinthine incoherence of U.S. trade policy.
    — David B. McGarry, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of obvious
Adjective
  • Citing the sheriff's office, WESH reported that deputies initially responded to a report of a possible shooting at the couple's home in Orlo Vista, just west of Orlando, at around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Russian troops often carve that backs off their assault cars’ cabs in order to facilitate a quick exit, so there was nothing but a possible thin screen to stop an FPV that barreled toward the anti-tank mine resting in the back of one idling Lada.
    — David Axe, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • Use the dome light and flashers to make your vehicle more noticeable.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Some of them, like the new experimental version of 2.5 Pro, are beginning to show noticeable vibe improvements.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of noticeable
Adjective
  • That much was evident in the latest meeting as both sets of players gave everything to try to get one over the other in what has become a rivalry for the ages.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The Conrad’s commitment to sustainable practices is evident in its daily operations.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of evident
Adjective
  • Emilia Pérez’s turnout in particular was a fall from seeming dominance, perhaps precipitated by Gascón’s controversy.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
  • That night of violence — with its brutality and seeming lack of a motive — has shaken the community.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024
Definition of seeming
Adjective
  • Test out various methods to influence your auditory and visual environment.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • When Nintendo finally officially revealed the Switch 2 in January, one of our major unanswered questions concerned whether games designed for the original Switch would see some form of visual or performance enhancement when running on the backward-compatible Switch 2.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of visual
Adjective
  • It had been stated before, that Starfleet ships in the 23rd century didn’t have holodecks, but suddenly here is one — that grid pattern is unmistakable — and the crew seems to be using it to solve a whodunnit, Christie-style.
    — Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2025
  • For over 20 years, her unmistakable voice has been the soundtrack to countless lives, blending gospel music a powerful message of faith.
    — Shelby Stewart, Essence, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of unmistakable

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apparels
apparent
apparently
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Cite this Entry

“Apparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apparent. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

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